Is Sharath Kamal Dreaming of an Olympic Medal for India in Table Tennis?

New Delhi, Sep 13 (NationPress) The iconic table tennis champion Sharath Kamal is optimistic about the future of the sport in India, expressing his aspirations for an Indian paddler to clinch an Olympic medal soon. Kamal, who recently announced his retirement, was a notable flagbearer for India at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics and has an impressive collection of medals from the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Asian Championships.

“The youth in table tennis are exceptionally talented and are consistently improving. We hope this trend continues. During the last Asian Games, our women's doubles team secured a bronze, and we came very close to defeating China,” he noted.

“We were on the verge of an upset, and the upcoming Paris Olympic Games hold great promise for Indian table tennis, as our women reached the quarterfinals while the men made it to the last 16. Each year, we are progressing, and with the LA Olympics on the horizon, I envision more medals, particularly the coveted Olympic medal for Indian table tennis,” Kamal shared in a conversation with IANS during the PlayCom 2025 summit.

For Sharath, life post-retirement is bustling, as he is involved in establishing a high-performance sports center and serves as the vice-chairperson of the IOA Athletes Commission. “It’s been six months since my retirement, but I’m actively engaged in administrative roles,” he mentioned.

“One of my exciting upcoming projects is the establishment of a high-performance center in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu state sports development authority, set to launch in the first week of October. We aim to conduct our initial training session soon,” he added.

“Additionally, the IOA Athletes Commission is gearing up to host an athlete forum, similar to those organized by the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia, to unite all athletes and ensure their voices are heard by various sports stakeholders,” he explained.

When asked if more athletes should venture into sports administration, Sharath responded positively. “Transitioning careers can be challenging, and many athletes often feel lost post-retirement. While coaching is a common path, some of us may excel in administrative roles, understanding organizational dynamics and policies,” he stated.

“I see a significant improvement in Indian sports as athletes successfully transition to administrative careers, maintaining their connection to sports and contributing to the nation’s growth as a sporting powerhouse,” he concluded.

This year, India also submitted a formal proposal to host the 2036 Olympic Games in Ahmedabad, and Sharath believes the framework for this endeavor is progressing positively. “The government is laying down a solid foundation, and we are collectively working towards this vision,” he affirmed.

“We are ensuring a clear pathway for young athletes, guiding them from grassroots to high-performance levels, so that more individuals engage in sports. While not everyone needs to become champions, a larger participant base will help us identify and nurture talent effectively,” he summarized.